Suddenly I felt alone. I-330 was no longer with me. I don’t know how nor where she disappeared. Around me were only those , with their hair glistening like silk in the sunlight. I caught someone’s warm, strong, dark shoulder.

“Listen, please, in the name of the Well-Doer, could you tell me where she went? A while, a minute ago she.⁠ ⁠…”

Long-haired, austere eyebrows turned to me.

“Sh⁠ ⁠… sh⁠ ⁠… silence!” He made a sign with his head towards the centre where there stood the yellow, skull-like stone.